Automatic stocking-lenght-measuring device for knitting-machines.



A. F. KILLIAN.

AUTOMATIC STOCKING LENGTH MEASURING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. [3. I917.

A. F. KILLIANI AUTOMATIC STOCKING LENGTH MEASURING DEVICE FOR KNITTINGMACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JANA I3. I9II 1,289,81 L I Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

1 3,8HEETS-SHEET 2 A. F. KILLIAN.

AUTOMATIC STOCKING LENGTH MEASURING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATTON FILED JAN. 13. 191]. 1,289,811.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918..

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3.

rare.

AUTOMATIC STOCKING-LENGTH-MEASURING DEVICE FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, rats.

Application filed .1 anuary 13. 1917. Serial No. 142,575.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUST FREDERICK KILLIAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Palmyra, in the State of NewJersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in AutomaticStocking- Length-Measuring Devices for Knitting- Mac-hines, whereof thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

It is the object of my invention to provide a rotary knitting machine,of the class in which the needle cylinder is rotary, with means toprecisely redetermine the actual lengths of the stoc ing tube betweenenlargements thereof, for the heel and toe pockets. regardless of thenumber of courses of loops. Ordinarily, such lengths of the fabricproduced by machines of that class are detern'iined solely by the numberof (OUISBS of loops; so that the actual length varies in accordance witheven slight variations in the tension of the thread. For instance, twomachines apparently adjusted alike, both as to the number of courses andas to the tension of the thread, may respectively produce stockingsdiffering in length by three inches or more. Consequently, where anumber of such machines are employed a great deal of time and labor isnecessarily expended in sorting the stockings and matching them in pairsof substantially the same length. My invention has the purpose andeffect of dispensing with such waste of time and labor bypredetermination of the actual length of each stocking, regardless ofthe number of courses of loops therein. Although stockings produced inaccordance with my invention may vary to a considerable extent in thenumber of courses of loops in a given length, in accordance withvariations in the tension of the threads, such variations are negligibleas far as the commercial value of the product is concerned.

As hereinafter described, my invention includes a roller which isengaged and turned by the knit tube as the latter is drawn from theneedles; so that said roller is turned in precise accordance with theactual length of the fabric which passes it, and said roller is providedwith means connecting it with pattern mechanism, which may be of anysuitable construction, whereby the movement of such mechanism to effectthe shaping of the knit tube is initiated when said roller reaches apredetermined point in its revolution; -the motion of the patternmechanism thus initiated being automatically terminated by meansincluded in the pattern mechanism independently of said roller.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a knitting machine withpattern mechanism the motion of which is controlled by means movable inaccordance with the actual length of the fabric produced, withoutregardto the number of courses therein. However, so far as I am aware,no such de vice of the prior art has been designed or adapted forcooperation with a knitting machine wherein the needle cylinder rotatesduring the knitting operation.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings; Figure I is a fragmentary front elevation of anautomatic knitting machine of the -Banner type having a convenientembodiment of my invention applied thereto.

Fig. II is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. I, asseen from the right hand side of that figure.

Fig. III is a fragmentary elevation of a smaller portion of saidmachine, as seen from the left hand side of Fig. I.

. Fig. IV is a fragmentary plan sectional view, taken on the line IV, IVin Figs. I to III inclusive.

In said figures; I have shown only so much of the ordinary elements ofsaid automatic knitting machine as are necessary to illustrate theapplication of my invention thereto, including the rotary needlecylinder 1 provided with needles 2 arranged to be operated by the camcylinder 3 which is stationary on the machine frame 4. The main shaft 5has, fast at its inner end, the bevel gear 6 engaging the bevel gear 7on the lower end of said needle cylinder, as indicated in Fig. I. Saidshaft 5 carries on its central enlargement 8 the clutch 9 which turnswith said shaft but is keyed to slide thereon, when moved by the lever12, so that said shaft may be alternately driven by the gears 13.and 11, both of which are normally loose on said shaft. Said gear 13 is faston the sleeve 16 having on its outer end the usual tight and loosepulleys 17 and 18 and the operating handle 19, and is the main drivinggear. As shown in Fig. II, said main driving gear 13 engages the crankear 20, on the countershaft 21, and said gear as the radially adjustablecrank pin 22 pivotally connected by the link 23 with the stud 24 on thearm 26 of the sectoral gear 27 which is mounted to oscillate on theshaft 28 p in said frame 4 and engages with said gear needle cylinderare merely oscillated, to the extent determined by the radial positionof the crank pin 22.

Said machine also includes, as ordinary elements thereof, the patternshaft 30, shown in Figs. II and IV, on which is loosely mounted thechain ratchet wheel 31, carrying the pattern chain 32. Said patternwheel 31 is rotated, step by step, by the cam pawl 34 which successivelyengages the teeth thereof and is carried and oscillated by saidoscillatory sectoral gear 27, indefinite relation to the movement of theneedle cylinder, regardless of whether the latter is being continuouslyrotated or oscillated, so that said chain 32 is shifted, in thedirection of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. II, in definite relationto the movement of said needle cylinder. Said pattern shaft 30, whichextends loosely through said chain ratchet wheel 31, is rotated, step bystep, one revolution for each complete stocking len 11, by the pawl 35,which is also carried y said oscillatory sectoral gear 27. Said pawl 35engages the cam ratchet wheel 37 which is fast on said shaft 30, so asto turn it with each oscillatory movement of said sectoral gear 27; butsaid pawl 35 is normally upheld in the idle position shown in Fig. II,

by the oscillatory pawl holder 38 which is so weighted that it normallyhangs in the position shown in Fig. I but has the projection 39 adaptedto be encountered by high links 41, which are carried in properly spacedrelation in said chain 32 and arranged to raise said awl holder 38 fromthe position shown in Fig. I, and thus permit said pawl to engage saidcam ratchet wheel 37.

Said machine is so constructed and arranged as to knit a stocking tubeof a pat tern represented by the total length of said chain 32 andincluding leg, heel, foot and toe portions; said heel and toe portionsbeing knit by oscillatory movement of said needle cylinder and said legand foot portions being circularly knit by continuous rotary movement ofsaid needle cylinder. However, as hereinafter descrlbed, my invention isapplied to said machine to precisely determine the lengths of thecircular knit portions of the stocking tube, without regard to the otherportions of said tube, although my invention is arranged to cooperate,in proper time, with the other ele ments of the machine by which theknitting of all other portions of the stockings is controlled andeffected.

As indicated in Fig. I; said rotary needle cylinder 1 carries thetubular can 46, which rotates with said cylinder, and into which thefabric 47 knit by said needles 2 is discharged.- Ordinarily, said fabric47 is drawn directly downward into said can by the pair of feed rollers48 and 49 having shafts 50 and 51 which are journaled transversely insaid can; said rollers being turned step by step by mechanism includingthe lever 53 which is operated by encountering a cam supported by saidframe 4, independently of said can 46. However, in accordance with myinvention, I interpose the measuring roller 55, in said can 46, betweensaid needles 2 and said pair of feed rollers 48 and 49 so that saidroller 55 is, arranged to be engaged and turned by said fabric 47, inthedirection of the arrow marked thereon in Fig. Said roller 55 has theshaft 56 journaled transversely in said can 46 and has the driving gear57, exterior to said can, engaging the pattern gear wheel 58, which isjournaled on the exterior of said can and has a circular series ofsockets, parallel with its axis, in which pattern studs 61, 62, 63, 64and 65 are changeably fitted. The tappet cam lever 67, is fulcrumed at68 on said can 46 and arranged to be operated by said studs 61 to 65inclusive, as said pattern wheel 58 is turned, in the direction of thearrow marked,

thereon in Fig. I, in accordance with the progress of said fabric 47downward in said can 46.

Said tappet lever 67 and mechanism connected therewith as abovedescribed, carried by and rotated with said can 46 are arranged tooperate the lever 70 which has a ring end encircling said can 46 asshown in Fig. IV, but is supported independently of said can, upon therock shaft 71 which is journaled in said frame 4 and in the bracket 72as shown in Figs. III and IV, Said rock shaft 71 carries the lever arm74, which is in rigid relation therewith and connected by the spring 75with the frame 4, as indicated in Fig. II, so that said lever 70 isnormally resiliently held with its ring end bearing upon said tappetlever 67 as shown in Figs. I and III. Said lever arm 74 is pivotallyconnected with the link 76 which is pivotally connected to thepawl lever77 which is mounted to oscillate loosely on the ratchet shaft 79 andprovided with the spring pressed pawl 80 adapted to engage a singlenotch 81 in the ratchet disk 82 which is rigidly connected with saidshaft 79. Said shaft 79 is mounted to rotate in the bearing Lassenjection 88 of the pawl tripping lever 89 which is fulcrumed at 90 onsaid frame 4 as indicated in Figs. 11 and IV, and, when engaged withsaid pawl disk 86 as indicated in Fig. II, under pressure of they spring91 which connects said lever 89 with the pin 92 on the frame 4, saidlever 89 upholds said pawl 34 in idle position, so that it does notoperate said chain ratchet wheel 31. Said lever 89 is tripped to lowersaid pawl 34 into operative relation with said ratchet wheel 31, byrotation of said shaft 79, and said pawl 34 continues to operate saidchain ratchet wheel 31, step by step, with each oscillation of saidsectoral gear'27, until said notch 8'! is again presented beneath thecam projection 88 on said lever'89, when said lever 89; being drawn downby said spring 91 again uplifts said pawl 34 into the idle positionshown in Fig. 11.

The mechanism for effecting .such intermittent motion includes theratchet wheel 94, which is rigidly connected with said shaft 79. 'Asshown in Fig. II, said ratchet wheel 94 is spaced for twenty-six teeth,but has only twenty-four teeth, two of the teeth being omitted to formthe blank space 95 which is normally presented in the position shown inFig. II; so that the pawl 96 then reciprocates idly at said blank space.Said pawl 96 is carried by the pawl lever 97 which is mounted tooscillate loosely on said shaft 79 and connected by the link 98 with therock arm 99 onsaid shaft 28, which is in rigid relation with saidsectoral gear 27, so that the oscillatory movement of the latter isimparted to said pawl lever 97. However, the oscillatory movement thusimparted to the pawl 96, is not efi'ective to turn the ratchet wheel' 94until the latter has been turned in the direction of the arrow markedthereon in Fig. 11, to a sufficient extent to present one of its teethin engage ment with said pawl 96. Such preliminary movement is effectedby the pawl 80 engaging the pawl disk 82 at the opposite end of saidshaft 79,when said ring lever is uplifted by the tappet lever 67, whenthe latter is uplifted by one of the pattern studs, 61 to 65 inclusive,carried by said pattern gear wheel 58. Said ratchet wheel 94 isconveniently provided with the keeper pawl 100 which is pressed intoengagement therewith by the spring 101, as shown in Fig. 11, to preventaccidental displacement of said ratchet wheel.

Therefore, it is to be understood that the movement of the ordinarypattern mechanism, including said chain wheel 31, is

initiated when said roller 55 reaches a predetermined point in itsrevolution, by one of the pattern studs 61 to 65 inclusive thenuplifting the tappet lever 67 and ring lever 70 so as to turn said shaft79, trip the lever 89 and thus lower the pawl 34 into operative relationwith said chain ratchet wheel 31; and -that the motion of the patternmechanism thus initiated is automatically terminated upon the completionof a single revolution of said shaft 7 9, by said tripping lever89 beingagain shifted by said spring 91, into the position shown in Fig. II,thus uplifting said pawl 34 from said chain wheel 31 and thus causing itto operate idly thereafter until the operation of my improved mechanismis repeated.

In the form shown, the stud'61 is at the starting point of a stockingblank, the machine being set to loop around to form a zone at which thetube is severed. The stud 62 corresponds with the point where themachine begins t knit with cotton thread to form the upper end of thegarter top. The stud 63 initiates the knitting of mercerized thread, incontinuation of the garter top. The stud 64 initiates the knitting ofthe boot, with silk thread, and the stud 65 initiates the knitting ofthe high splice and heel.

Of course, said pattern wheel 58 remains stationary during the knittingof each heel and toe pocket, because the fabric is not then progressedby said feed rollers 48 and 49, and, in order to prevent interference ofmy special pattern mechanism with theord-inary pattern mechanism, duringsuch oscillatory knitting: I find it convenient to provide the auxiliarytripping lever 104 for said pawl 96. As indicated in Figs. 11 and IV,said lever 104 is fulcrumed at 105 in connection with the frame 4, isprovided with the spring 106 connected with said frame 4, and has thecam projection 107 adapted to encounter the cams 108 and 109 on the camdisk 110 which is rigidly connected with said pattern shaft 30 andtherefore turned by said pawl 35 engaging said ratchet wheel 37; so thatsaid lever 104 may be tilted at predetermined intervals in the rotationof said pattern shaft 30. The opposite end of said lever 104 is formedas a cam 111 adapted to encounter the pin 112 on said pawl 96 and thusuplift the latter and render it idle, at the intervals predetermined bythe location of said cams 108 and 109. Said cam 108 shifts said trippinglever 104 preliminary to the knitting of each heel pocket and said cam109 shifts said lever preliminary to the knitting of each toe pocket.

Said cam disk 110 is part of the ordinary pattern mechanism of themachine illustrated, adapted to cotiperate with levers tilted by thecams 114 and 115 indicated in Fig. II. However, the specificconstruction and arrangement of that portion of the pattern mechanismhas nothing to do with my present invention and I have omitted saidlevers.

As far as I am aware, it is broadly new to provide a knitting machine,of the type in which the needle cylinder rotates, with a measuringroller which is engaged and turned by the knit tube as the latter isdrawn from the needles, and which is provided with means connectingitwith pattern mechanism whereby the movement of such mechanism iscontrolled in definite relation to the actual length of the fabric knit,regardless of the number of courses therein. Therefore, I do not desireto limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangementherein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may bemade therein without departing from the essential features of myinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic circular knitting machine the combination with arotary needle cylinder provided with needles; of a stationary camcylinder arranged to operate said needles; a tubular can carried by androtated with said needle cylinder, through which the fabric knit by saidmachine is discharged; a pair of feed rollers having shafts journaledtransversely in said can, arranged to draw said fabric; a measuringroller arranged to engage and be turned by said fabric, having a shaftjournaled transversely in said can, between said needle cylinder andsaid feed rollers; a driving gear on said measuring roller shaft,exterior to said can; a pattern gear wheel journaled on the exterior ofsaid can, driven by said driving gear, and having a circular series ofsockets arallel with its axis; pattern studs changeably fitted in saidsockets; a tappet cam lever fulcrumed on said can, arranged to beoperated by said studs as said pattern wheel is turned; a leverfulcrumed independently of said can, having a ring end encircling saidcan, and arranged to be oper ated by said tappet lever; meansoperatively connecting said ring lever to control the knitting operationof said machine, including a ratchet shaft, a pawl lever mounted tooscillate loosely on said shaft and carrying a pawl, a ratchet diskfixed on said shaft in position to engage said pawl, a ratchet wheelfixed on said shaft, and having a blank space on its tooth face, anotherpawl lever mounted to oscillate loosely on said shaft and carrying apawl in position to engage said ratchet wheel; an oscillatory shaft; arock arm rigid on said oscillatory shaft; a link operatively connectingsaid rock arm with said last named pawl lever; acam disk on said ratchetshaft; a tripping lever arranged to cooperate with said cam disk; asectoral gear on said oscillatory shaft; a pawl carried by said sectoralgear; a chain ratchet wheel adapted to be operated by the last namedpawl when released by said tripping lever; a pattern chain arranged tobe progressed by said chain ratchet wheel to control the knittingoperation of said machine; a pattern shaft extending loosely throughsaid chain wheels; means arranged to turn said pattern shaft onerevolution for each complete stocking cycle of operation of saidmachine; heel and toe cams carried by said pattern shaft; and anauxiliary tripping lever arranged to be operated by said heel and toecams to render said awl which actuates said ratchet Wheel idle uring theoperation of knitting each heel and toe pocket.

2. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotary needlecylinder provided with needles; of a stationary cam cylinder arranged tooperate said needles; a

tube carried'by and rotated with said needle cylinder, through which thefabric knit by said machine is discharged; a pair of feed rollersarranged to draw said fabric; a measuring roller arranged to engage andbe turned by said fabric, having a shaft journaled in said tube, betweensaid needle cylinder and said feed rollers; a driving gear on saidmeasuring roller shaft; a pattern gear wheel journaled on said tube,driven by said driving gear, and having a circular series of sockets;pattern studs changeably fitted in said sockets; a tappet cam leverfulcrumed on said tube, arranged to be operated by said studs as saidpattern wheel is turned; a lever fulcrumed independently of said tube,having a ring end encircling said tube, and arranged to be operated bysaid tappet lever; means operatively connecting said ring lever tocontrol the knitting operation of said machine, including a ratchetshaft, a pawl lever mounted to oscillate loosely on said shaft andcarrying a pawl, a ratchet disk fixed on said shaft in position toengage said pawl, a ratchet wheel fixed on said shaft, and havin a blankspace on its tooth face, another paw lever mounted to oscillate looselyon said shaft and carrying a pawl in position to engage said ratchetwheel; an oscillatory shaft; a rock arm rigid on said oscillatory shaft;a link operatively connecting said rock arm with said last named pawllever; a cam disk on said ratchet shaft; a tripping lever arranged tocooperate with sald cam disk; a sectoral gear on said oscillatory shaft;a pawl carried by said sectoral gear; a .chain ratchet wheel adapted tobe operated by the last named pawl when released by said tripping lever;and a pattern chain arranged to be progressed by said chain ratchetwheel to control the knitting operation-of said machine.

3. In a circular knitting machine, the combination with a rotary needlecylinder provided with needles; of a stationary cam cylinder arranged tooperate said needles; a tube carried by and rotated with said needlecylinder, through which the fabric knit by said machine is discharged; ameasuring roller arranged to engage and be turned by said fabric, havingashaft journaled in said tube; a driving gear on said measuring rollershaft; a pattern gear wheel journaled on said tube, driven by saiddriving gear, and having a circular series of sockets; pattern studschangeably fitted in said sockets; a lever arranged to be operated byaid studs as said pattern Wheel is turned; means operatively connectingsaid lever to control the knitting operation of said machine, includinga ratchet shaft, a pawl lever mounted to oscillate loosely on said shaftand carrying a pawl, a ratchet disk fixed on said shaft in position toengage said pawl, a ratchet wheel fixed on said shaft, and having ablank space on its tooth face, another pawl lever mounted to oscillateloosely on said shaft and carrying a pawl in position to engage saidratchet wheel; an oscillatory shaft; a rock arm rigid on saidoscillatory shaft; a link operatively connecting said rock arm with saidlast named pawl lever; a cam disk on said ratchet shaft; a trippinglever arranged to cooperate with said cam disk; a sectoral gear on saidoscillatory shaft; a pawl carried by said sectoral gear; a chain ratchetwheel adapted to be operated by the last named pawl when .released bysaid tripping lever; and a pattern chain arranged to be rogressed bysaid chain ratchet wheel to control the knitting operation of saidmachine.

4. In an automatic fabric length measuring device for a knittingmachine, the combination with needles and cams arranged to operate saidneedles; of a rotary tube through which the fabric knit by said machineis discharged; means arranged to rotate said tube during the knittingoperation; a pair of feed rollers having shafts journaled transverselyin said tube, arranged to draw said fabric; a measuring roller arrangedto engage and be turned by said fabric, having a shaft journaledtransversely in said tube, between said needles and said feed rollers; adriving gear on said measuring roller shaft. exterior to said tube; aattern gear wheel journaled exterior to, but carried by, said tube,driven by said driving gear, and having a circular series of socketsparallel with its axis; pattern studs changeably fitted in said sockets;and pattern mechanism, including a lever in cooperative relation withsaid studs, whereby the knitting operation of said machine iscontrolled, in accordance with the actual length of said fabric,regardless of the number of courses of loops therein.

5. In an automatic fabric length measuring device for a knittingmachine, the combination with needles and cams arranged to operate saidneedles; of a rotary tube through which the fabric knit by said machineis discharged; means arranged to rotate said tube during the knittingoperation; a pair of feed rollers arranged to draw said fabric; ameasuring roller arranged to en gage and be turned by said fabric,having a shaft journaled transversely in aid tube, be-

tween said needles and said feed rollers; a driving gear on saidmeasuring roller shaft, exterior to said tube; a pattern gear wheeljournaled exterior to, but carried by, said tube, driven by said drivinggear, and having a circular series of sockets parallel with its axis;pattern tuds changeably fitted in said sockets; and pattern mechanism,including a lever in cooperative relation with said studs, whereby theknitting operation of said machine is controlled, in accordance with theactual length of said fabric, regardless of the number of courses ofloops therein.

6. In an automatic fabric length measuring device for a knittingmachine, the combination with needles and cams arranged to operate saidneedles; of a measuring roller arranged to engage and be turned by thefabric knit by said machine, having a shaft; a driving gear on saidmeasuring roller shaft; a pattern gear wheel driven by said drivinggear, and having a series of pattern studs; means supporting saidpattern gear wheel for rotation, with the needles, upon an axistransverse to its shaft; and pattern mechanism, including a lever incooperative relation with said studs, whereby the knitting operation ofsaid machine is controlled, in accordance with the actual length of saidfabric, regardless of the number of courses of loops therein.

7 In an automatic fabric length measuring device for a knitting machine,the combination with needles and cams arranged to operate said needles;of a pattern shaft; means arranged to turn said pattern shaft onerevolution for each complete stocking cycle of operation of saidmachine; heel and toe cams carried by said pattern shaft; a patternchain; a pattern chain ratchet 'wheel, loose on said pattern shaft andengaging said chain; a pawl arranged to turn said chain ratchet wheel; atripping lever arranged to render said pawl idle; a ratchet shaft; a camdisk on said ratchet shaft arranged to operate said tripping lever; aratchet wheel on said ratchet shaft having a blank space; a pawl havingmeans arranged to continuously reciprocate it during the operation ofsaid machine, but normally idle in said blank space; an auxlliarytripping lever arranged to be operated by said heel and toe cams torender said pawl which actuates said ratchet wheel idle during theoperation of knitting each heel and toe ocket; means arranged to turnsaid blank space of said ratchet wheel away from said awl to permit thelatter to turn said whee includlng a lever; a pattern gear Wheel havingstuds arranged to actuate the last named lever; a measurin rollerarranged to be turned by the fa ric knit by said machine; and meansoperatively connecting said measuring roller with said pattern gearwheel; whereby the knitting operation of said machine is controlled, inaccordance with the actual length of said fabric, regardless of thenumber of courses of loops therein.

8. In an automatic fabric length measuring device for a knittingmachine, the combination with needles and cams arranged to operate saidneedles; of a pattern shaft; means arranged to turn said pattern shaftone revolution for each complete stocking cycle of operation of saidmachine; heel and toe cams carried by said pattern shaft; a patternchain; a pattern chain ratchet wheel, engaging said chain; a pawlarranged to turn said chain ratchet wheel; a tripping lever arranged torender said pawl idle; a ratchet shaft; a cam disk on said ratchet shaftarranged to operate said tripping lever; a ratchet wheel on said ratchetshaft having a blank space; a pawl having means arranged to continuouslyreciprocate it during the operation of said machine, but normally idlein said blank space; an auxillary tripping lever arranged to be operatedby said heel and toe cams to render said pawl which actuates saidratchet wheel idle during the operation of knitting each heel and toepocket; means arranged to turn said blank space of said ratchet wheelaway from said pawl to permit the latter to turn said wheel, including alever; a pattern gear wheel arranged to actuate-the last named lever; ameasuring roller arranged to be turned by the fabric knit by saidmachine; and means operatively connecting said measuring roller withsaid pattern gear wheel; whereby the knitting operation of said machineis controlled, in accordance with the actual length of said fabric,regardless of the number of courses of loops therein.

9. In an automatic fabric length measuring device for a knittingmachine, the combination with needles and cams arranged to operate saidneedles; of a pattern shaft; means arranged to turn said pattern shaftin accordance with the operation of said machine; a pattern chain; apattern chain wheel, engaging said chain; a measuring roller arranged tobe turned by the fabric knit by said machine; and means operativelyconnecting said measuring roller with said pattern shaft and with saidpattern chain wheel, including a variable pattern gear wheel and meansoperatively connect- 1ng it with said measuring roller, arranged to turnit on an axis transverse to the'length of said fabric, and meanssupportin said pattern gear wheel for rotation, Wlfil the needles, uponan axis transverse to its axis of rotation aforesaid; whereby theknitting operation of said machine is controlled, in acordance with theactual length of said fabric, regardless of the number of courses ofloops therein. 4

10. In an automatic circular knitting ma chine, the combination with arotary needle cylinder provided with needles; of a stationary camcylinder arranged to operate said needles; a tubular can carried by androtated with said needle cylinder, through which the fabric knit by saidmachine is discharged; a pair of feed rollers having shafts journaledtransversely in said can, arranged to draw said fabric; a measuringroller arranged to engage and be turned by said fabric, having a shaftjournaled transversely in said can, between said needle cylinder andsaid feed rollers; a driving gear on said measuring roller shaft,exterior to said can; a pattern gear wheel journaled on the exterior ofsaid can, driven by said driving gear, and having a circular series ofsockets parallel with its axis; pattern studs changeably fitted in saidsockets; a tappet cam lever fulcrumed on said can, arranged to beoperated by said studs as said pattern wheel is turned; a leverfulcrumed independently of said can, having a ring end encircling saidcan; and means operativ'elv connecting said ring lever to control theknitting operation of said machine.

11. In a circular knitting machine. the combination with a rotary needlecylinder provided with needles; of a stationary cam cylinder arran ed tooperate said needles; a measuring roller. carried by said needlecylinder. arranged to engage and be turned by the fabric knit by saidmachine; and means operativelv connecting said measuring roller tocontrol the knitting operation of said machine in accordance with theactual length of said fabric, regardless of the number of courses ofloops therein. including a variable pattern wheel rotatable upon an axistransverse to the axis of said needle cylinder and carried with saidcvlinder, and means whereby said pattern wheel has a continuousplanetary movement, contemporaneous with and consequent upon themovement of the needle cylinder.

12. In an automatic circular knitting machine. the combination with arotary needle cylinder provided with needles; of a stationary camcylinder arranged to operate said needles; a tubular can carried by androtated with said needle cylinder. through which the fabric knit by saidmachine is discharged; a measuring roller arranged to engage and beturned by said fabric, having a shaft journaled transversely in saidcan; a driving gear on said measuring roller shaft, exterior to saidcan; a pattern gear Wheel journaled on the exterior of said can,

driven by said driving gear, and having a circular series of socketsparallel with its axis; pattern studs changeably fitted in said sockets;a tappet cam lever fulcrumed on said can, arranged to be operated bysaid studs as said pattern wheel is turned; a lever fulcrumedindependently of said can, having a ring end encircling said can; andmeans operatively connecting said ring le- "er to control the knittingoperation of said machine.

13. In an automatic circular knitting machine, the combination with arotary needle cylinder provided with needles; of a stationary camcylinder arranged to operate said needles; a tubular can carried by androtated with said needle cylinder, through which the fabric knit by saidmachine is discharged; a measuring roller arranged to engage and beturned by said fabric, having a shaft journaled transversely in saidcan; a pattern wheel exterior to said can, driven by said measuringroller; a tappet cam lever fulcrumed on said can arranged to be operatedby said pattern wheel as the latter is turned; a lever fulcrumedindependently of said can, having a ring end encircling said can; andmeans operatively connecting said ring lever to control the knittingoperation of said machine.

14. In an automatic circular knitting machine, the combination with arotary needle cylinder provided with needles; ofa stationary camcylinder arranged to operate said needles; a measuring roller carriedwith said rotary needle cylinder and arranged to be turned by thefabricknitted; a pattern wheel, also carried with said needle cylinder,arranged to rotate u on a horizontal axis and having varitibleprojections; a lever fulcrumed on a horizontal axis, independently ofsaid needle cylinder, arranged to be lifted by the projections on saidpattern wheel; and means operatively connecting said lever to controlthe knitting operation of said machine.

15. In an automatic circular knitting machine, the combination with arotary needle cylinder provided with needles; of a stationary camcylinder arran ed to operate said needles; a tube carried y and rotatedwith said needle cylinder, through which the fabric knit by said machineis discharged; a measuring roller, carried with said needle cylinder,arranged to engage and be turned by said fabric; a lever fulcrumedindependently of said tube, having a ring end encircling said tube;means operatively connecting said measuring roller with said lever,arranged to intermittently operate said lever, in accordance with thelength of the fabric knit; and means operatively connecting said ringlever to control the knitting operation of 'said machine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this thirteenth day of December, 1916.

' AUGUST FREDERICK KILLIAN.

Witnesses:

RAYMOND FISHER, ROBERT P. FISHER.

